Pre-season friendly

July 25 2023

Lamin Manneh and Romello Nangle were on target as Carlton Town continued their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 win at Hucknall Town.

On their first visit to the Yellows’ excellent new stadium, the Millers always looked in control but Hucknall, featuring ex-Millers Louis Czerwak and Niall Towle, never stopped trying and it was another competitive outing for both sides.

Carlton should have opened the scoring on just three minutes when Manneh headed wide after an excellent run and cross by Shea Thompson-Harris.  Shortly afterwards Thompson-Harris won the ball near the half way line, played in Greg Tempest whose lovely ball found Alex Howes on the right.  His fine cross was just ahead of Nangle but found Manneh at the back post who could only hit the side netting.

Jamie Crawford had Hucknall’s best effort when his 25-yard drive flew just wide before Manneh put Carlton ahead on 20 minutes.  Nangle advanced into the area on the left before playing the ball back to Manneh whose curling shot from the edge of the box beat the keeper and nestled in the corner of the net.

Howes then went close on two occasions before Felix Annan in the Carlton goal had to be quick off his line to deny Crawford.

Carlton made five changes at half time but within two minutes of the restart Nangle doubled the lead with a stunning strike.  There seemed little danger when the striker picked up the ball on the left touchline in midfield, but he stepped forward and, form fully 30 yards, hit an absolute screamer which flew over the goalkeeper and into the top corner.

Both sides made further multiple changes and Hucknall repelled all further Carlton attacks.  They had a couple of half-chances of their own but the Millers defence looked secure throughout.

Carlton complete their pre-season with a home game against Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday, a game to be held in tribute to Vice President Jackie North, who sadly passed away recently.

Carlton Town: Felix Annan (Nykah Liburd-Hinesi 46), Shea Thompson-Harris (David Agdebola 46), Lewis Durow, Dan Brown (Dean Freeman 46), Lawrence Gorman (Lamin Seasow 57), Khyle Sargent (Lawrence Gorman 74), Lamin Manneh (Emmy Kabongo 53), Greg Tempest (Shea Thompson-Harris 67), Romello Nangle (Mussa Jawara 57), Alex Howes, Zac Hill (Joel Daft 46).

Goals: L Manneh 20, R Nangle 47

Att: 120 approx

Pre-season friendly

July 22 2023

Lamin Manneh scored a brace as Carlton Town won 4-0 at Clifton All Whites in the annual Micky Barrett cup game.

In a feisty encounter which featured a total of four penalties from two penalty awards, it was not as straightforward as the final score suggests, but Carlton ultimately had too much for their step 6 opponents and both sides will have gained something from what was for long spells a competitive match.

On a superb playing surface, Carlton had the first chance of the game on just three minutes when Michael Ford set up Niall Hylton in a great position but Hylton fired wide of target.

David Agdebola then fed Manneh who turned superbly and when his deflected shot hit the bar, Lewis Durow could only lift the rebound over the top.

David Kapok had Clifton’s best chance of the half soon afterwards when he ran clean through on goal but Felix Annan did well to save.

Ex-Carlton striker Kyle Stovell was clearly up for the game and he was booked on 20 minutes for a second crunching foul on Manneh.  From the resultant free kick the ball was chipped into the area where Dean Freeman was pushed over by Jamie William for the referee to award a penalty.  Manneh stepped up for the spot kick but his Panenka hit the bar and when he was first to touch the rebound the referee awarded Clifton a free kick.

Seven minutes later Carlton were awarded a second penalty when Manneh was brought down by Sal Touray.  This time Mussa Jawara stepped up but he continued the tradition of Carlton being awful at penalties with a weak effort that was comfortably saved by Beau Watson in the Clifton goal.  However, the linesman had adjudged that Watson had come off his line and so the referee ordered that the kick be retaken.

Jawara stepped up again, hit another weak penalty straight down the middle and Watson saved again.  Astonishingly, the linesman flagged once again to penalise Watson for coming off his line and so although Jawara in fact scored with the rebound, the referee had already blown for the infringement which led to a third go at taking the penalty.  This time, Manneh took it.  To be honest, his effort was just as bad as the others but it crept past Watson into the goal.

Clifton were understandably aggrieved, and that sense of injustice will have been amplified by viewing footage of the penalties, which showed the decisions to penalise Watson were harsh indeed.  But they were unable to make any real headway against an impressive Carlton defence and the game calmed down in the run up to half time.

The Millers made a host of pre-planned changes at half time and looked in control as the second half progressed.  Zac Hill doubled the lead on 64 minutes when he was on hand to calmly convert from inside the area after Joel Daft’s cross wasn’t cleared properly.

Within a minute it was 3-0 when Manneh ran onto a superb pass from Lawrence Gorman, got to the ball ahead of Watson and lifted the ball into the net.

By now the game was over and Gorman wrapped up the scoring three minutes from time with a fine angled finish from 10 yards after cutting into the right hand side of the penalty area.

Both sides will have benefitted from a decent game as they both prepare for the respective league campaigns.

Carlton Town: Felix Annan (Kristian Ogoxowski 46), David Adegbola (Shea Thompson-Harris 46), Lewis Durow, Lamin Seasow (Lawrence Gorman 46), Dean Freeman (Dan Brown 46), Khyle Sargent (Liam Bateman 46), Lamin Manneh (David Agdebola 88), Michael Ford (Lamin Seasow 88), Mussa Jawara (Zac Hill 46), Alex Howes (Niall Hylton 67), Niall Hylton (Joel Daft 46).

Goals: L Manneh 31 (pen), 65, Z Hill 64, L Gorman 87

Att: 100 approx